Insulation plate for retaining roof decking membranes and for removing the adhesive release film or release sheet

ABSTRACT

An insulation plate has an external peripheral edge portion provided with a continuous circumferential array of serrated teeth. The serrated teeth are adapted to engage a release sheet, disposed upon an underlying environmental membrane of a fully-adhered environmental membrane system covering roof decking substructural components, as the release sheet is effectively moved into engagement with the serrated teeth. In this manner, the release sheet is readily and easily severed along a well-defined locus where—by the release sheet can be easily removed so as to uncover an adhesive layer disposed upon the upper surface portion of the underlying environmental membrane in preparation for securing an overlying environmental membrane atop the underlying environmental membrane in order to form the fully-adhered environmental membrane system. Alternatively, the continuum of serrated teeth may be oriented axially downwardly so as sever the release sheet as the insulation plate is effectively rotated along with a threaded screw fastener as the latter is threadedly engaged within the underlying roof decking substructure. In addition, both the radially outwardly and axially downwardly oriented serrated teeth also serve to fixedly and assuredly retain the underlying membrane upon the underlying roof decking substructure in order to effectively resist uplifting wind forces.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to insulation plates which areadapted to be secured at predetermined locations upon an underlying roofdecking substructure or system so as to assuredly retain roof deckingenvironmental membranes and insulation members upon the underlying roofdecking system or substructure, and more particularly to a new andimproved insulation plate, and a roof decking system employing the same,wherein, in addition to having means structurally incorporated thereinfor providing enhanced engagement and gripping forces in connection withthe roof decking environmental membranes overlying the underlying roofdecking substructure or system, the means structurally incorporatedwithin the new and improved insulation plate also serves to readilyfacilitate the removal of the release sheet from the upper surfaceportion of a first lower environmental membrane of a fully-adheredenvironmental membrane system employed in connection with the underlyingroof decking substructure or system such that a second upperenvironmental membrane can be subsequently secured atop the first lowerenvironmental membrane so as to complete the formation of thefully-adhered environmental membrane system, whereby the environmentalmembranes can assuredly protect the underlying roof decking substructureor system despite the subjection of the various roof decking componentsto wind or other environmental forces.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various types of plates are conventionally used in connection with thesecuring of environmental membranes upon underlying roof deckingsubstructures, systems, or assemblies in order to fixedly retain suchenvironmental membranes upon the underlying roof decking substructures,systems, or assemblies so as to permit the environmental membranes toprotect the underlying roof decking substructures, systems, orassemblies from environmental or weather conditions. One type of plateis known in the industry as a seam plate or membrane plate which islocated at a seam location defined between separate but adjacent oroverlapping membrane members. Examples of such seam plates or membraneplates are disclosed within U.S. Pat. No. 4,945,699 which issued toMurphy on Aug. 7, 1990, as well as within U.S. Pat. No. 4,787,188 whichalso issued to Murphy on Nov. 29, 1988. As can be appreciated from FIG.1 of the drawings, which substantially corresponds to FIG. 4 of theaforenoted U.S. Pat. No. 4,945,699 patent to Murphy, a seamedenvironmental membrane system is disclosed at 110 and is seen tocomprise roof decking substructure as disclosed at 103 which mayconventionally be provided with overlying insulation 102. The insulation102 is, in turn, adapted to have environmental membranes disposedthereon in an overlying manner, and as is conventional, a plurality ofthe environmental membranes are adapted to be mated together so as to ineffect provide the underlying insulation 102 and roof deckingsubstructure 103 with a continuum of protection.

More particularly, for example, at each location or site, along theexpanse of the roof decking system or assembly, at which separate andadjacent edge portions of the environmental membranes are to be, ineffect, seamed together in an overlapping manner, an edge portion of afirst underlying membrane, as disclosed at 101, is adapted to be securedto the underlying deck substructure 103 by means of a seam plate ormembrane plate 10, while an edge portion of a second membrane member 104is adapted to be secured in an overlapping manner with respect to thefirst underlying membrane member 101 by means of a welded seam 111. Theseam plate or membrane plate 10 often has a substantially circularconfiguration, and is provided with a lower surface portion 12 which isseated atop the first underlying membrane 101, and an upper surfaceportion 11 over which the second membrane member 104 is disposed. Ascrew fastener 107 is adapted to pass through an aperture defined withina substantially central portion of the seam plate or membrane plate 10,and accordingly, after the seam plate or membrane plate 10 is disposedatop the first underlying membrane 101, and when the screw fastener 107is then inserted through the central aperture formed within the seamplate or membrane plate 10 and threadedly engaged within the underlyingdeck substructure 103, the seam plate or membrane plate 10 will besecured to the underlying deck substructure 103 so as to in turn fixedlysecure the underlying environmental membrane member 101 to theunderlying deck substructure 103. After the overlying environmentalmembrane member 104 is welded to the underlying environmental membranemember 101, as at the seamed location 111, the fixation of the twoenvironmental membranes 101,104 with respect to the underlying decksubstructure 103 is complete.

A second type of plate, which is conventionally used in connection withthe securing of environmental membranes upon underlying roof deckingsubstructures, systems, or assemblies in order to fixedly retain suchenvironmental membranes upon the underlying roof decking substructures,systems, or assemblies so as to permit the environmental membranes toprotect the underlying roof decking substructures, systems, orassemblies from environmental or weather conditions, comprises what isknown in the industry as an insulation plate. An insulation plate issimilar to the aforenoted seam plate or membrane plate, however, aninsulation plate is not necessarily utilized at seam locations definedbetween adjacent or overlapping edge portions of mated environmentalmembranes, but, to the contrary, may be utilized at positionsintermediate such overlapping edge seam portions of the environmentalmembranes in order to further ensure the secure fixation of theenvironmental membranes to the underlying roof decking substructurecomponents. One type of environmental membrane system which is commonlyutilized in connection with the covering and protection of underlyingroof decking substructure components is known in the art as afully-adhered-system. As can best be appreciated from FIG. 2, aconventional or PRIOR ART fully-adhered-system for use in conjunctionwith underlying roof decking substructure components is disclosed and isgenerally indicated by the reference character 210. More particularly,an underlying roof decking member, which may comprise, for example,corrugated steel decking or non-corrugated wood or concrete decking, isdisclosed at 212, and a slab of insulation 214 is adapted to be disposedatop the roof decking member 212.

In addition, a first environmental membrane 216 is adapted to bedisposed atop the slab of insulation 214 so as to protect the slab ofinsulation 214 and the underlying roof decking member 212 fromenvironmental or weather conditions, and in order to fixedly secure thefirst environmental membrane 216 upon the slab of insulation 214, aplurality of insulation plates, only one of which is disclosed at 218,are disposed atop the first environmental membrane 216. Each one of theinsulation plates 218 is fixedly secured to the underlying roof deckingmember 212 by means of, for example, a suitable threaded fastener 220which passes through the slab of insulation 214 and is threadedlyengaged within the underlying roof decking member 212, and a secondenvironmental membrane 222 is adapted to be disposed atop the firstenvironmental membrane 216 so as to not only cover the firstenvironmental membrane 216, but, in addition, to cover the insulationplate 218 and the head portion of the threaded fastener 220. In thismanner, the insulation plate 218 is effectively sandwiched between thefirst lower environmental membrane 216 and the second upperenvironmental membrane 222. In accordance with further structuralfeatures characteristic of a conventional, PRIOR ART fully-adheredenvironmental membrane system, it is noted that the upper surfaceportion of the first, lower, underlying environmental membrane 216 hasan adhesive coating or layer disposed thereon whereby when the second,upper, overlying environmental membrane 222 is mounted upon the first,lower, underlying environmental membrane 216, the second, upperoverlying environmental membrane 222 will be fully adhered to the first,lower, underlying environmental membrane 216.

In conjunction with the foregoing, it is noted that the upper surfaceportion of the first, lower, underlying environmental membrane 216 isprovided with a suitable release sheet, not shown, which, of course, isto be removed prior to the mounting and adherence of the second, upper,overlying membrane 222 atop and upon the first, lower, underlyingenvironmental membrane 216. In order to operatively achieve thisstructural assembly of the environmental membrane system comprising thefirst and second environmental membranes 216,222, the firstenvironmental membrane 216 is fixedly secured to the underlying roofdecking member 212 by means of the plurality of insulation plates 218and the threaded fasteners 220 while the release sheet, not shown, isstill adhered upon the upper surface portion of the first environmentalmembrane 216. Subsequently, when it is desired to secure the secondoverlying environmental membrane 222 atop and upon the first underlyingenvironmental membrane 216, the release sheet, not shown, disposed uponthe upper surface portion of the first underlying environmental membraneis removed from the upper surface portion of the underlyingenvironmental membrane 216 so as to effectively uncover or expose theunderlying adhesive coating or adhesive layer disposed upon the uppersurface portion of the underlying environmental membrane 216. As mayreadily be appreciated, however, when it is intended to remove therelease sheet, not shown, from the upper surface portion of theunderlying environmental membrane 216, such a removal operation is infact difficult to achieve due to the obvious fact that the releasesheet, not shown, is in effect tightly clamped beneath the plurality ofinsulation plates 218 which are fixedly secured to the underlying roofdecking member 212. Accordingly, portions of the release sheet, notshown, disposed around each one of the plurality of insulation plates218 must be manually ripped or torn away which is not only difficult toachieve, but in addition, such a process results in the irregularremoval of the release sheet, such a process may sometimes require theuse of special tools in order to remove or separate the release sheet,and such a process is also quite time-consuming.

A need therefore exists in the art for a new and improved insulationplate wherein the insulation plate can not only satisfactorily engageand secure an underlying environmental membrane upon underlying roofdecking structural components so as to effectively permit the underlyingenvironmental membrane to resist uplifting wind forces which mightotherwise cause the environmental membrane to tear or become dislodgedfrom its position beneath the insulation plate, but in addition, whenthe insulation plate is being employed in conjunction with afully-adhered environmental membrane system, the insulation plate willreadily facilitate the removal of the release sheet from the uppersurface portion of the first underlying environmental membrane, withoutcausing any tearing of the first underlying environmental membrane tooccur, so as to expose the adhesive layer disposed upon the uppersurface portion of the first underlying environmental membrane whereuponthe second overlying environmental membrane can be secured atop thefirst underlying environmental membrane so as to effectively form, alongwith the first underlying environmental membrane, the desired sandwichedenvironmental membrane system or assembly for protecting the underlyingroof decking components from environmental conditions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The foregoing and other objectives are achieved in accordance with theteachings and principles of the present invention through the provisionof a new and improved insulation plate which comprises a circularstructure having a central aperture for permitting a threaded screwfastener to pass therethrough for threaded engagement within theunderlying roof decking substructure whereby the insulation plate isfixedly secured to the underlying roof decking substructure. Theexternal periphery of the circular insulation plate is provided with acontinuous array of very fine serrated teeth which have predeterminedincluded angle, pitch, and root-to-crest depth dimensions which enablethe serrated teeth to effectively engage an underlying environmentalmembrane, disposed upon underlying roof decking structural components,so as to effectively secure the underlying environmental membrane uponthe underlying roof decking structural components without causing anytearing of the underlying environmental membrane, and in addition, theinsulation plate will effectively permit the underlying environmentalmembrane to resist uplifting wind forces which might otherwise cause theenvironmental membrane to tear or become dislodged from its positionbeneath the insulation plate.

In addition, when the insulation plate is employed in conjunction with afully-adhered environmental membrane system, the serrated teeth formedupon the external periphery of the insulation plate will engage therelease sheet, disposed upon the upper surface portion of the underlyingenvironmental membrane, so as to initiate and facilitate the controlled,uniform tearing of the release sheet whereby the release sheet can bereadily, easily, quickly removed from the upper surface portion of thefirst underlying environmental membrane, without causing any tearing ofthe first underlying environmental membrane to occur, so as to exposethe adhesive layer disposed upon the upper surface portion of the firstunderlying environmental membrane whereupon the second overlyingenvironmental membrane can be secured atop the first underlyingenvironmental membrane so as to effectively form, along with the firstunderlying environmental membrane, the desired sandwiched environmentalmembrane system or assembly for protecting the underlying roof deckingsubstructural components from environmental conditions. In accordancewith a second alternative embodiment of the insulation plate, theserrated teeth are oriented axially downwardly such that when theinsulation plate is being fixedly installed upon the underlying roofdecking substructures by means of the threaded screw fastener, aninterference fit or keyed fit, defined between the insulation plate andthe upper shank portion of the fastener, will cause the insulation plateto rotate with respect to the underlying environmental membrane wherebythe axially downwardly oriented teeth can effectively cut through therelease sheet or release liner covering the underlying environmentalmembrane.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various other objects, features, and attendant advantages of the presentinvention will be more fully appreciated from the following detaileddescription when considered in connection with the accompanying drawingsin which like reference characters designate like or corresponding partsthroughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional PRIOR ART roofdecking system or assembly showing the conventional mounting of a seamplate or membrane plate at the seamed location of two overlappingmembrane sheets as secured to the underlying roofing deckingsubstructure;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional PRIOR ART fullyadhered environmental membrane system wherein a plurality of insulationplates secure a first underlying environmental membrane to underlyingroof decking substructural components, and a second overlyingenvironmental membrane is adhesively bonded, by means of an adhesivelayer disposed upon an upper surface portion of the first underlyingenvironmental membrane, to the first underlying environmental membraneso as to form therewith a sandwich construction, within which theplurality of insulation plates are encased, whereby the underlying roofdecking substructural components are protected from environmentalconditions;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view, of a first embodiment of a new andimproved insulation plate constructed in accordance with the principlesand teachings of the present invention, which particularly illustratesthe annular array of radially outwardly projecting serrated teeth formedupon the external periphery of the insulation plate for engaging therelease sheet disposed upon the underlying environmental membrane inorder to initiate the uniform cutting of the release sheet so as tofacilitate the removal of the same from the upper surface portion of theunderlying environmental membrane;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the new and improved insulationplate as disclosed within FIG. 3 as taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the new and improved insulationplate as disclosed within FIG. 3 as taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the new and improved insulationplate as disclosed within FIG. 3 as taken along lines 6-6 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged detail view of a plurality of the serrated teethdisposed upon the external periphery of the new and improved insulationplate as disclosed within FIG. 3; and

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view, similar to that of FIG. 4, showing,however, a second embodiment of a new and improved insulation plateconstructed in accordance with the principles and teachings of thepresent invention, herein the annular array of serrated teeth, formedupon the external periphery of the insulation plate, are orientedaxially downwardly so as to effectively engage the release sheet,disposed upon the underlying environmental membrane, as the insulationplate is installed upon the underlying roof decking substructuralcomponents so as to effectively cut the release sheet along a circularlocus and thereby facilitate the subsequent removal of the release sheetfrom the upper surface portion of the underlying environmental membrane.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 3-6thereof, a first embodiment of a new and improved insulation plate,constructed in accordance with the principles and teachings of thepresent invention, is disclosed and is generally indicated by thereference character 310. The insulation plate has a substantiallycircular configuration, and is in the form of a substantially flat orplanar disc. It is further appreciated that the insulation plate 310 hasa diametrical extent D of approximately three inches (3.00″), and isfabricated from an aluminum-zinc alloy coated steel sheet. An aperture312, having a diametrical extent of approximately 0.25 inches, is formedat the centrally located axial position of the insulation plate 310 soas to accommodate the insertion and passage therethrough of a suitablethreaded screw fastener, not shown but similar to the threaded screwfastener 220 as illustrated within FIG. 2, for facilitating the fixationof the insulation plate 310 to underlying roof decking substructuralcomponents.

In addition, an axially downwardly recessed region 314, as can best beappreciated from FIG. 4, annularly surrounds the axially centralaperture 312 so as to effectively accommodate and seat the head portionof the threaded screw fastener, not shown, whereby the head portion ofthe threaded screw fastener, not shown, will not project axially abovethe substantially planar upper surface portion 316 of the insulationplate 310. In this manner, if installation personnel while walking uponthe roof decking assembly during the performance of their normalinstallation work or other operating procedures, should, for example,encounter any one of the insulation plates 310, they can step or treadupon the substantially planar upper surface portion 316 of eachinsulation plate 310 and will not in fact encounter the head portions ofthe threaded screw fasteners fixing the particular insulation plate 310to the underlying roof decking substructure wherein such an encounterwith the head portion of the particular threaded screw fastener mightotherwise adversely affect the stable fixation of that particularinsulation plate 310 upon the underlying roof decking substructure.

With reference continuing to be made to FIGS. 3-6, and as can best beappreciated from FIG. 4, it is seen that the substantially planar uppersurface portion 316 of the insulation plate 310 is disposed within ordefines an upper planar locus UP, while the axially downwardly recessedregion 314 is disposed within or defines a lower planar locus LP, andaccordingly, the depth or thickness dimension T of the insulation plate310, as defined between the upper planar and lower planar loci UP,LP, isapproximately 0.200 inches. It can be further appreciated that the outerperiphery of the insulation plate 310 tapers downwardly from thesubstantially planar upper surface portion 316 to an annular peripheralflanged or ledge portion 318, and that the annular peripheral flanged orledge portion 318 is disposed within or defines a planar locus PP whichis located slightly above the lower planar locus LP within which theaxially downwardly recessed region 314 is disposed. Accordingly, it canbe appreciated that when the insulation plate 310 is fixedly mounted andsecured upon the underlying roof decking substructure as a result of thethreaded screw fastener, not shown, being fully threadedly engagedwithin the underlying roof decking substructure, the axially downwardlyrecessed region 314 will become partially embedded within the slab ofinsulation, similar to the slab of insulation 214 as illustrated withinFIG. 2, until the annular peripheral flanged or ledge portion 318 of theinsulation plate 310 is effectively seated in a stabilized manner uponthe upper surface portion of the slab of insulation. It is furthernoted, in connection with the structural makeup or composition of theinsulation plate 310, that an annular axially downwardly recessed region320 is defined within the substantially planar upper surface portion 316of the insulation plate 310 so as to effectively define an axiallydownwardly projecting annular rib member 322. As can be seen from FIG.4, the bottom or lower surface portion of the annular rib member 322 isdisposed within or defines a planar locus RP, and it is to beappreciated that the depth dimension of the annular rib member 322 isapproximately equal to one-half of the overall depth or thicknessdimension T of the insulation plate 310. In addition, a plurality, suchas, for example, three, of radially oriented or radially extending ribmembers 324 integrally interconnect the annular rib member 322 to theannular ledge or flanged portion 318 as can best be appreciated fromFIGS. 3,5, and 6. While the particular number of radially oriented orradially extending rib members 324 can vary, it is to be noted, as canbest be appreciated from FIG. 3, that regardless of the particularnumber of radially oriented or radially extending rib members 324 thatare utilized, such rib members 324 are to be equally spaced from eachother in a circumferential array. Accordingly, as illustrated, the threeradially oriented or radially extending rib members 324 are angularlyspaced from each other through means of arcuate extents comprising 1200.

With reference now being made to FIGS. 3 and 7, and in accordance withthe particularly unique and novel feature characteristic of the presentinvention, the outer peripheral edge portion of the insulation plate 310has a continuous circumferential array of serrated teeth 326 which areformed thereon so as to project radially outwardly. Each one of theserrated teeth 326 has a depth dimension TD, as measured between theroot and crest portions of the tooth, of approximately 0.030 inches, andthe pitch TP, as defined between successive crest portions of adjacentor successive teeth 326, is approximately 0.046 inches. In addition, itis noted that each one of the teeth 326 has an isosceles triangleconfiguration with the radially outwardly projecting apex portion of thetriangle having an included angle A defined between the equal sides ofthe triangle as comprising approximately 60°. Accordingly, revertingback to the typical or conventional fully-adhered environmental membranesystem as illustrated within FIG. 2, as has been noted hereinbefore, theupper surface portion of the first, lower, underlying environmentalmembrane 216 has a release sheet or release liner, not shown, disposedthereover which is adapted to be removed, after the first, lower,underlying environmental membrane 216 has been secured to the underlyinginsulation and roof decking members 214,212 by means of the insulationplate and threaded screw fastener components 218, 220, when it isdesired to install the second, upper, overlying environmental membrane222 atop the first, lower, underlying environmental membrane 216. As isalso known and conventional, the release sheet or release liner, notshown, is conventionally fabricated from a suitable thermoplasticmaterial and typically has a thickness dimension of approximately onemil or 0.001 inches.

Accordingly, when the new and improved insulation plate 310 of thepresent invention is utilized within a fully-adhered roof deckingsystem, similar to that illustrated within FIG. 2, and wherein the newand improved insulation 310 of the present invention effectivelyreplaces the illustrated insulation plate 218, then when it is desiredto remove the release sheet or release liner, not shown, from the uppersurface portion of the first, lower, underlying environmental membrane216, installation personnel can, for example, begin to peel the releasesheet or release liner away from the upper surface portion of the first,lower, underlying environmental membrane 216 and upon encountering eachone of the new and improved insulation plates 310, that portion of therelease sheet or release liner which is disposed immediately adjacent tothe outer peripheral edge portion of the insulation plate 310 will beforced into contact with the plurality of serrated teeth 326 formedthereon. Accordingly, as a result of such engaged contact between therelease sheet or release liner, and the plurality of serrated teeth 326of the insulation plate 326, the serrated teeth 326 will readily andeasily cause a controlled and well-defined tearing or ripping of therelease sheet or release liner along a circular locus defined by meansof the external periphery of the insulation plate 326.

This interaction defined between the serrated teeth 326 and the releasesheet or release liner thereby facilitates the overall installationoperation by installation personnel and effectively eliminates theirregular tearing or ripping of the release sheet or release liner, withdamage also possibly being inflicted upon the underlying environmentalmembrane 216, as well as rendering the installation operation faster andmore cost-effective. Still yet further, it is to be appreciated thatafter the release liner or release sheet has been severed and removed,or when the new and improved insulation plate 310 of the presentinvention is not employed within a fully-adhered environmental membranesystem similar to that disclosed at 210 within FIG. 2, but to thecontrary, is employed within, for example, a seamed environmentalmembrane system similar to that disclosed at 110 within FIG. 1, theexternal peripheral array of serrated teeth 326 will be beneficial whenengaging portions of the environmental membranes which may come intocontact with the array of serrated teeth 326 in that the serrated teeth326 can effectively engage and positively hold or retain theenvironmental membranes so as to actively resist, for example, thedestructive actions normally caused by uplifting wind forces. Inconjunction with such engaging and retaining functions, it is notedthat, unlike the case or instance in which the array of serrated teeth326 caused a controlled, defined tearing or ripping of the release lineror release sheet when the release sheet or release liner was forced intoengagement with the array of serrated teeth 326, such tearing or rippingactions will not occur when the environmental membranes are forced intocontact with the array of serrated teeth 326 under the aforenoteduplifting wind forces due to the fact that the thickness dimensions ofthe environmental membranes are significantly greater than the thicknessdimension of the release sheet or release liner. In particular,conventional environmental membranes have thickness dimensions ofapproximately 0.070 inches.

With reference lastly being made to FIG. 8, a second embodiment of a newand improved insulation plate, likewise constructed in accordance withthe principles and teachings of the present invention, is disclosed andis generally indicated by the reference character 410. As can be readilyappreciated, FIG. 8 comprises a cross-sectional view of the secondembodiment of the new and improved insulation plate 410 of the presentinvention which is similar to FIG. 4, which is a cross-sectional view ofthe first embodiment of the new and improved insulation plate 310 of thepresent invention, and therefore, for brevity purposes, the detaileddescription of the second embodiment of the new and improved insulationplate 410 as disclosed within FIG. 8 will be confined to the differencesbetween the first and second embodiments of the insulation plates310,410. In addition, it is noted that structural components of thesecond embodiment insulation plate 410, which correspond to thosestructural components of the first insulation plate 310, will bedesignated by similar reference characters except that the referencecharacters will be within the 400 series. More particularly, it is notedthat the only significant difference between the insulation plates310,410 resides in the fact that, in accordance with the secondembodiment insulation plate 410, the continuous circumferential array ofserrated teeth 426, in lieu of being oriented radially outwardly, areoriented axially downwardly.

In addition, the depth dimension TD of each tooth 426, as measured ordefined between the root and crest portions of each tooth, is smallerthan the depth dimension TD of each tooth 326 and is approximately 0.015inches. Accordingly, the included angle A defined by each tooth, as wellas the pitch TP defined between adjacent or successive ones of theteeth, may be slightly different from the corresponding parameterscharacteristic of teeth 326. In view of the fact that the serrated teeth426 are oriented axially downwardly, the circumferential array ofserrated teeth 426 are adapted to effectively cut through or sever therelease layer or release sheet as disposed atop the first, lowerunderlying environmental membrane 216 without, of course, significantlysevering the underlying environmental membrane 216. In order to in factachieve such a cutting or severing operation, the insulation plate 410is adapted to be rotated around its central axis 428 whereby as theinsulation plate 410 is rotated, the circumferential array of serratedteeth 426 will cut or sever the release liner or release sheet disposedatop the underlying environmental membrane 216. Accordingly, in order toachieve such rotation of the insulation plate 410 with respect to theunderlying environmental membrane 216, and the release sheet or releaseliner disposed thereon, the diametrical extent of the central aperture412 is predeterminedly dimensioned so as to effectively define, ineffect, a substantial friction or interference fit with, for example,the upper shank portion of the threaded screw fastener 220.

In this manner, as the threaded screw fastener 220 is threadedly engagedwithin the underlying roof decking member 212, and approaches theposition at which the threaded screw fastener 220 will be fully insertedand seated within the underlying roof decking member 212, the uppershank portion of the fastener 220, defining the aforenoted friction orinterference fit with the central aperture 412 of the insulation plate410, will cause the insulation plate 410 to rotate around its axis 428such that the axially downwardly oriented serrated teeth 426 caneffectively cut and sever the release sheet or release liner disposedatop the first underlying environmental membrane 216. Accordingly, oncethe release sheet or release liner is completely cut or severed by meansof the serrated teeth 426, that portion of the release sheet or releaseliner disposed around the particular insulation plate 410 can be removedso as to uncover the underlying adhesive upon which the second upperenvironmental membrane 222 can then be adhered.

It is noted further that in lieu of providing the aforenoted frictionfit or interference fit between the upper shank portion of the threadedscrew fastener 220 and the central aperture 412 defined within theinsulation plate in order to achieve the aforenoted rotation of theinsulation plate 410 with respect to the underlying membrane 216 and therelease sheet or release liner disposed thereon whereby the cutting orsevering of the release sheet or release liner can be achieved, analternative means for causing such rotation of the insulation plate 410,with respect to the underlying membrane 216 and the release sheet orrelease liner disposed thereon, in order to likewise achieve the cuttingor severing of the release sheet or release liner, could comprise akeyed structural arrangement defined, for example, between the uppershank portion of a threaded screw fastener similar to the threaded screwfastener 220 and the central aperture 412 formed within the insulationplate 410. For example, the central aperture 412, in lieu of having acircular configuration, could have a substantially square-shaped orother geometrical configuration, and the upper shank portion of thethreaded screw fastener would have a corresponding geometricalconfiguration so as to effectively define a rotary drive with theaperture 412 when the upper shank portion of the threaded screw fasteneroperatively engages the central aperture 421 defined within theinsulation plate 410.

It is lastly noted, as was the case with the first embodiment of theinsulation plate 310 of the present invention, as illustrated, forexample, within FIGS. 3 and 4, that after the release sheet or releaseliner has been severed and removed, the external peripheral array ofserrated teeth 426 will be beneficial in that the serrated teeth 326will already be effectively engaged with the underlying environmentalmembranes and can therefore positively hold or retain the underlyingenvironmental membranes so as to actively resist, for example, thedestructive actions normally caused by uplifting wind forces. Stillfurther, the new and improved second embodiment insulation plate 410 ofthe present invention need not only be employed within a fully-adheredenvironmental membrane system similar to that disclosed at 210 withinFIG. 2, but to the contrary, can be employed within, for example, aseamed environmental membrane system similar to that disclosed at 110 inFIG. 1, where—in, again, the external peripheral array of serrated teeth426 can be beneficial by effectively and positively holding or retainingthe underlying environmental membranes so as to actively resist thedestructive actions normally caused by uplifting wind forces. When thesecond embodiment insulation plate 410 is employed within a seamedenvironmental membrane system, the insulation plate 410 may bestructured relative to the threaded screw fastener so as not to undergoany rotation therewith but, to the contrary, will simply be engaged withthe underlying environmental membranes when the insulation plate 410 isfully installed upon the underlying roof decking substructure such thatthe serrated teeth 426 thereof are only partially embedded within theuppermost regions or layers of the underlying environmental membranes.More particularly, in conjunction with its engaging and retainingfunctions, and as was also the case with the first embodiment insulationplate 310, it is noted that, in view of the fact that the thicknessdimension of each one of the environmental membranes is significantlygreater than the depth dimension of the serrated teeth 426, the serratedteeth 426 do not pose any significant threat of undesirably cutting orsevering the underlying environmental membranes even under upliftingwind force conditions.

Thus, it may be seen that in accordance with the principles andteachings of the present invention, a new and improved insulation plateor seam plate has been developed wherein, in accordance with a firstembodiment of the insulation plate, the external peripheral edge portionof the insulation plate is provided with a continuous circumferentialarray of radially outwardly projecting serrated teeth which are adaptedto engage a release sheet or release liner, disposed upon an underlyingenvironmental membrane of a fully-adhered environmental membrane systemcovering roof decking substructural components, as the release sheet orrelease liner is effectively moved into engagement with the serratedteeth. In this manner, the release sheet or release liner is readily andeasily cut or severed along a well-defined locus such that the releasesheet or release liner can be removed and thereby uncover the adhesivelayer disposed upon the upper surface portion of the underlyingenvironmental membrane in preparation for securing an overlyingenvironmental membrane atop the underlying environmental membrane inorder to form the fully-adhered environmental membrane system.Alternatively, the continuum of serrated teeth may be oriented axiallydownwardly so as to cut or sever the release sheet or release liner asthe insulation plate is effectively rotated along with the threadedscrew fastener as the latter is threadedly engaged within the underlyingroof decking substructure. In addition, both the radially outwardly andaxially downwardly oriented serrated teeth also serve to fixedly andassuredly retain the underlying membrane upon the underlying roofdecking substructure in order to positively or effectively resistuplifting wind forces.

Obviously, many variations and modifications of the present inventionare possible in light of the above teachings. For example, while theinsulation or seam plate has been illustrated as having a substantiallycircular configuration, other geometrical configurations, such as, forexample, triangular, square, oval, rectangular, star-shaped, polygonal,irregular, and the like, are of course possible, the corner regions alsoof course being rounded where necessary so as not to present anysharp-cornered areas to the underlying membrane. It is therefore to beunderstood that within the scope of the attached or appended claims, thepresent invention may be practiced otherwise than as specificallydescribed herein.

1. An insulation plate for securing an underlying environmentalmembrane, having a release sheet removably disposed upon the externalsurface portion thereof, to an underlying substructure, comprising: aninsulation plate having an external peripheral edge portion; an aperturedefined within a central portion of said plate for receiving a fastenerfor securing said insulation plate to an underlying substructure; and aplurality of teeth disposed upon said external peripheral edge portionof said insulation plate for cutting the release sheet of the underlyingenvironmental membrane when said plurality of teeth engage the releasesheet of the underlying environmental membrane so as to facilitate thesevering of the release sheet of the underlying environmental membranealong a locus substantially defined by means of said peripheral edgeportion of said insulation plate.
 2. The insulation plate as set forthin claim 1, wherein: said insulation plate has a circular configuration.3. The insulation plate as set forth in claim 1, wherein: said pluralityof teeth are disposed within a continuous array upon said peripheraledge portion of said insulation plate.
 4. The insulation plate as setforth in claim 3, wherein: said continuous array upon said peripheraledge portion of said insulation plate comprises an array of serratedteeth.
 5. The insulation plate as set forth in claim 1, wherein: saidplurality of teeth project radially outwardly from said externalperipheral edge portion of said insulation plate such that when therelease sheet of the underlying environmental membrane is brought intoengagement with said plurality of radially outwardly projecting teeth,said plurality of radially outwardly projecting teeth will sever therelease sheet of the underlying environmental membrane along said locussubstantially defined by means of said peripheral edge portion of saidinsulation plate.
 6. The insulation plate as set forth in claim 1,wherein: said plurality of teeth project axially downwardly from saidexternal peripheral edge portion of said insulation plate such that whensaid insulation plate is rotated while said insulation plate is beingfixedly secured to the underlying substructure, said plurality ofaxially downwardly projecting teeth will sever the release sheet of theunderlying environmental membrane along said locus substantially definedby means of said peripheral edge portion of said insulation plate. 7.The insulation plate as set forth in claim 5, wherein: each one of saidplurality of teeth has the configuration of an isosceles triangle, atooth depth, as measured between root and crest portions of each one ofsaid plurality of teeth, of approximately 0.030 inches, the pitch, asdefined between successive crest portions of adjacent ones of saidplurality of teeth, being approximately 0.046 inches, and an includedangle, as defined between the equal sides of said isosceles triangle, ofapproximately 60°.
 8. The insulation plate as set forth in claim 6,wherein: each one of said plurality of teeth has the configuration of anisosceles triangle, and a tooth depth, as measured between root andcrest portions of each one of said plurality of teeth, of approximately0.015 inches.
 9. An insulation plate for securing an underlyingenvironmental membrane to an underlying roof decking substructure,comprising: an insulation plate having an external peripheral edgeportion; an aperture defined within a central portion of said insulationplate for receiving a fastener for securing said insulation plate to anunderlying roof decking substructure; and a plurality of teeth disposedupon said external peripheral edge portion of said insulation plate forengaging the underlying environmental membrane when said insulationplate is secured to the underlying roof decking substructure so as tofacilitate the gripping of the underlying environmental membrane by saidplurality of teeth of said insulation plate in order to positivelyassist the resistance of uplifting wind forces.
 10. The insulation plateas set forth in claim 9, wherein: said insulation plate has a circularconfiguration.
 11. The insulation plate as set forth in claim 9,wherein: said plurality of teeth are disposed within a continuous arrayupon said peripheral edge portion of said insulation plate.
 12. Theinsulation plate as set forth in claim 11, wherein: said continuousarray upon said peripheral edge portion of said insulation platecomprises an array of serrated teeth.
 13. The insulation plate as setforth in claim 9, wherein: said plurality of teeth project radiallyoutwardly from said external peripheral edge portion of said insulationplate.
 14. The insulation plate as set forth in claim 9, wherein: saidplurality of teeth project axially downwardly from said externalperipheral edge portion of said insulation plate.
 15. The insulationplate as set forth in claim 13, wherein: each one of said plurality ofteeth has the configuration of an isosceles triangle, a tooth depth, asmeasured between root and crest portions of each one of said pluralityof teeth, of approximately 0.030 inches, the pitch, as defined betweensuccessive crest portions of adjacent ones of said plurality of teeth,being approximately 0.046 inches, and an included angle, as definedbetween the equal sides of said isosceles triangle, of approximately60°.
 16. The insulation plate as set forth in claim 14, wherein: eachone of said plurality of teeth has the configuration of an isoscelestriangle, and a tooth depth, as measured between root and crest portionsof each one of said plurality of teeth, of approximately 0.015 inches.17. A fully-adhered roof decking assembly, comprising: a roof deckingmember; a layer of insulation disposed atop said roof decking member; afirst underlying environmental membrane having a first internal surfaceportion thereof disposed atop said layer of insulation, having anadhesive layer disposed upon a second external surface portion thereof,and having a release sheet removably disposed atop said adhesive layer;a second overlying environmental membrane adhered to said adhesive layerof said first underlying environmental membrane after said release sheethas been removed from said adhesive layer of said first underlyingmembrane; and an insulation plate for securing said first underlyingenvironmental membrane to said roof decking member, said insulationplate having an external peripheral edge portion; an aperture definedwithin a central portion of said insulation plate for receiving afastener for securing said insulation plate to said roof decking member;and a plurality of teeth disposed upon said external peripheral edgeportion of said insulation plate for cutting said release sheet of saidfirst underlying environmental membrane when said plurality of teethengage said release sheet of said first underlying environmentalmembrane so as to facilitate the severing and removing of said releasesheet from said first underlying environmental membrane, along a locussubstantially defined by means of said peripheral edge portion of saidinsulation plate, in preparation for adherence of said second overlyingenvironmental membrane to said adhesive layer of said first underlyingenvironmental membrane.
 18. The roof decking assembly as set forth inclaim 17, wherein: said insulation plate has a circular configuration.19. The roof decking assembly as set forth in claim 17, wherein: saidplurality of teeth are disposed within a continuous array upon saidperipheral edge portion of said insulation plate.
 20. The roof deckingassembly as set forth in claim 19, wherein: said continuous array uponsaid peripheral edge portion of said insulation plate comprises an arrayof serrated teeth.
 21. The roof decking assembly as set forth in claim17, wherein: said plurality of teeth project radially outwardly fromsaid external peripheral edge portion of said insulation plate such thatwhen said release sheet of said first underlying environmental membraneis brought into engagement with said plurality of radially outwardlyprojecting teeth, said plurality of radially outwardly projecting teethwill sever said release sheet of said first underlying environmentalmembrane along said locus substantially defined by means of saidperipheral edge portion of said insulation plate.
 22. The roof deckingassembly as set forth in claim 17, wherein: said plurality of teethproject axially downwardly from said external peripheral edge portion ofsaid insulation plate such that when said insulation plate is rotatedwhile said insulation plate is being fixedly secured to said roofdecking member, said plurality of axially downwardly projecting teethwill sever said release sheet of said first underlying environmentalmembrane along said locus substantially defined by means of saidperipheral edge portion of said insulation plate.
 23. A roof deckingassembly, comprising: a roof decking member; a layer of insulationdisposed atop said roof decking member; an underlying environmentalmembrane disposed atop said layer of insulation; and an insulation platefor securing said underlying environmental membrane to said roof deckingmember, said insulation plate having an external peripheral edgeportion; an aperture defined within a central portion of said plate forreceiving a fastener for securing said insulation plate to said roofdecking member; and a plurality of teeth disposed upon said externalperipheral edge portion of said insulation plate for engaging saidunderlying environmental membrane when said insulation plate is securedto said roof decking member so as to facilitate the gripping of saidunderlying environmental membrane by said plurality of teeth of saidinsulation plate in order to positively assist the resistance ofuplifting wind forces.
 24. The roof decking assembly as set forth inclaim 23, wherein: said insulation plate has a circular configuration.25. The roof decking assembly as set forth in claim 23, wherein: saidplurality of teeth are disposed within a continuous array upon saidperipheral edge portion of said insulation plate.
 26. The roof deckingassembly as set forth in claim 25, wherein: said continuous array uponsaid peripheral edge portion of said insulation plate comprises an arrayof serrated teeth.
 27. The roof decking assembly as set forth in claim23, wherein: said plurality of teeth project radially outwardly fromsaid external peripheral edge portion of said insulation plate.
 28. Theroof decking assembly as set forth in claim 23, wherein: said pluralityof teeth project axially downwardly from said external peripheral edgeportion of said insulation plate.
 29. A method of forming afully-adhered roof decking assembly, comprising the steps of: providinga roof decking member; positioning a layer of insulation atop said roofdecking member; positioning a first underlying environmental membraneatop said layer of insulation such that an adhesive layer of said firstunderlying environmental membrane, covered by a removable release sheet,is externally disposed; positioning an insulation plate, having anexternal peripheral edge portion, an aperture defined within a centralportion of said insulation plate for receiving a fastener, and aplurality of teeth disposed upon said external peripheral edge portionof said insulation plate, over said first underlying environmentalmembrane; securing said insulation plate to said roof decking member byinserting said fastener through said aperture of said insulation plateand into said roof decking member; peeling a portion of said removablerelease sheet away from said first underlying environmental membrane, soas to expose said adhesive layer of said first underlying environmentalmembrane, and moving said peeled portion of said removable release sheetinto engagement with said plurality of teeth disposed upon said externalperipheral edge portion of said insulation plate such that saidplurality of teeth disposed upon said external peripheral edge portionof said insulation plate can cut said release sheet along a locussubstantially defined by means of said peripheral edge portion of saidinsulation plate so as to facilitate the removal of said release sheetfrom said first underlying environmental membrane; and adhering a secondoverlying environmental membrane onto said exposed adhesive layer ofsaid first underlying environmental membrane after said release sheethas been removed from said adhesive layer of said first underlyingmembrane.